108 
A VOYAGE TO 
[East Coast 
1802. 
October. 
Friday 29. 
(Atlas, 
PI. XVIII. 
View 10.) 
distant one mile and a half in the nearest part, and three miles at 
the extremes, which bore N. 15 0 E. and S. 6o° W. ; a sand bank or 
key upon it bore W. £ S., and is probably dry at all times, for it was 
then near high water. 
Finding by the latitude that we had been set considerably to 
the north, and were out of the parallel of Murray's Islands, I tacked 
to the S. S. W. ; and at two o'clock, the largest island was seen 
bearing S. 38° W. about five leagues. Soon afterward, a reef came 
in sight to the south-east, extending in patches toward the islands ; 
and presently another was distinguished to the westward, from the 
mast head, which took nearly a parallel direction, the passage be- 
tween them being about four miles wide. We steered along the lee 
side of the eastern reef, at the distance of a mile, with soundings 
from 29 to 24 fathoms, coral sand, until four o'clock ; the reef then 
trended more southward, and we edged away for the islands, of 
which Mr. Westall sketched the appearance. At half past five, the 
largest island bore S. 36° E. to 28* W., one mile and a half ; and 
there being more reefs coming in sight to the westward, the anchor 
was immediately let go in 20 fathoms, coarse sand jpid shells. The 
north and east sides of the island are surrounded by a reef, which 
may probably include the two smaller isles on its south-west side ; 
but it is totally unconnected with the reefs to the north-east. These 
appear to be a northern continuation of the vast bank, on the outside 
of which the Pandora sailed as far as 1 ij° south, and in the chart of 
captain Edwards’ track, published by Mr. Dalrymple, it is marked 
as surrounding the islands ; whereas it is at least four miles distant 
from the reef which probably does surround them. 
A number of poles standing up in various places, more espe- 
cially between the islands, appeared at a distance like the masts of 
canoes, and made me apprehend that the inhabitants of the Strait 
had collected a fleet here ; but on approaching nearer, the poles were 
found to be upon the reefs, and were probably set up for some pur- 
pose connected with fishing. We had scarcely anchored when be- 
